Swimming swan



Feb. 11, 1964 J. cURELlcH SWIMMING SWAN 4 Sheets-Sheetl 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1963 f x %/VEN TOR.

J. L. CURELICH Feb. l1, 1964 SWIMMING SWAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1963 INVENTOR. JOSE/D CU/'zvzZ/(H Feb. 11, 1964 J. l.. cuRELlcH 3,120,833

SWIMMING SWAN Filed Feb. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 i QM @Mg/ Feb. 11, 1964 J. l.. cuRELlcH 3,120,833

SWIMMING SWAN Filed Feb. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f o v.w nl@ f u mm1@ Wi j C M'f/ im un jZ/L Oa; h-i

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United States Patent O 3,120,833 SWIM-MENS SWAN Joseph L. Cureiich, Zoli?. Mercer St., Philadelphia Z5, Pa. Filed Feb. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 260,773 3 Qiaims. (Cl. 1l5-25) This invention relates generally to pedal operated devices for water sports and more specifically it relates to pedal operated aquatic vehicles.

One object of the present invention is to provide a pedal operated aquatic device for supporting a person and to permit travel across the surface of the water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pedal operated swimming swan bearing the resemblance of a water fowl having self contained means for steering the device during travel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pedal operated swimming swan which is designed particularly `for women and children or for men and which is ladaptable for cruising upon the water or for racing thereupon.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pedal operated swimming swan bearing the above objects in mind, which is of `simple constnuction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:V

FIGURE l is a top plan view showing one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a modified form of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side cross sectional view showing a modified form of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a side cross sectional view showing another modified lform of construction;

`FIGURE 5 is a side cross sectional view showing still another modified form of construction;

FIGURE 6 is a side cross sectional View showing a still further modified form of construction;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View showing yet another modied form of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the numerallil represents a swimming swan pedal operated aquatic device according to the present invention wherein there is a main body member 11 bearing the configuration ot' a swan having a head 12, a neck 13, chest portion 14, torso 15 and wing elements 16. The main body member supports a framework 17 which in turn carries the operating mechanism `IE5 to motivate the device. A towing ring 19 is attached to the forward end of the framework for purpose of towing the device when it is not self-propelled. A steering mechanism is provided and comprises a pair of handle bars 20 pivotably mounted upon a post 21 having laterally extending arms 22 to the ends of which a cable 23 is attached, the cable passing across pulleys 24 toward the stern 25 of the device Where the cable is attached to operate a rudder y2.6. The rudder is mounted pivotably free upon a rudder trame 27 afiixed to the main framework i7. The motivating power of the device is supplied by a motivating mechanism 28 wherein a foot operated paddle forces the device ahead by pushing the water rearwardly. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawing, there is an opening Z9 in the top side 30 of the body framework to provide access of the operators feet upon the mechanism. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawing, this mechanism includes a shoe pedal 3l and a shoe pedal 32 mounted upon a shoe rod 33; a crank level 34 is provided with spaced apart slots lh Patented Feb. l1, 1964 ICC 35 in which slide bushings 3o are longitudinally movable. The shoe rod is slidable vertically in a bushing 37 and a link 38 at the upper end of the shoe rod causes a paddle 39 to be activated about a pin dit afiixed to the crank level. The outward ends of the crank lever are pivotably affixed to links d1 attached at their lower ends to brackets i2 mounted upon the frame of the device. A pair of rods 43 attached to brackets mounted upon the framework are pivotably attached at ltheir upper ends to slide bushings 44 slidably mounted upon `a longitudinal bar 4S afiixed at its opposite ends to the crank lever. A flat steel spring E16 is provided to urge in the process of raising the shoe pedal after its downward movement thus bringing it into its original position for a subsequent movement.

It is to be understood that the present device may be provided with tloatation tanks and stern in order to give the device buoyancy upon the water thereby allowing the support of an individual riding thereupon.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawing, a modified construction of the device `as shown in FIGURE 3 is shown to incorporate the general principle of operation.

As shown in FIGURE 4 there are a pair of shoe pedals 61 and 32, each of which is supported upon its own vertical shoe rod 33. The figure further illustrates two paddles T19, both in different position from the other. One of the paddles is in position ready to start its stroke through the water whereas the other is shown just having completed such stroke. An opening i7 is shown in the body `of the frame through which the paddles extend downwardly for movement in the water.

it is to be noted that in the form of the invention as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the operator is :not provided with a seat and may, accordingly, stand during operation of the device which is particularly adaptable for racing purposes accordingly.

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in FIG- URE 6 of the drawing, a seat 43 is provided whereby the device is particularly adaptable for use by women or children. In the present form of the invention, there is shown a pair of shoe pedals 64B which are mounted by means of pins 61 to crank levers o2 which extend radially outward from a `shaft 63 supported in brackets 64 mounted upon the frame of the device. A sprocket 65 is mounted upon shaft 63 and a sprocket chain 66 is driven thereby. The sprocket chain also passes across Ia sprocket 67 `supported on a shaft 63 mounted in bracket 69 supported on the frame. A pedal assembly 7G is `also mounted upon shaft 68, the assembly including a plurality of paddles 71. rIhus upon rotational movement of the foot pedals driving power is transmitted to the paddles '71 thus causing the device to be propelled forward in the water. It is to be noted that each paddle is of generally arcuate conguration for purpose of greater efficiency during movement in the water.

In FIGURE 5 there is shown a modification similar to that shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the linkages 453 are afiixed at their upper ends to links Si) which in turn are attached to sliding bushings 44. As shown in FIG- URE 5, more clearly, the return spring 46, which urges the shoe pedal into upward position again, is attached to a link 31 which in turn is attached at its upper end to a vertically `sliding post upon which the pedal shoe is affixed.

In FIGURE 7 of the drawing, a modiiied form of vehiole is shown which does not have the configuration of a swan, but which is operated by the same mechanism shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. In the present form, the paddle assembly 76 is enclosed within a housing 9i) above which seat 91 is permanently affixed, the housing being supported on `a platform 92 -within which an opening 93 is provided to permit the paddle elements 71 to extend downwardly for movement through the water.

As shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawing, eac-h of the foot peddles is mounted upon a throw ltltl of the crank `shaft 101 Vand the sprocket chain passes over a sprocket located between the throws. The paddle assembly is comprised with paddle units 192 on each side or the sprocket, each of the units having -its own individual paddles attached by means of brackets 103 upon the shaft.

Thus, there has been shown an aquatic vehicle which is paddle driven `and which can be readily operated by the feet of an operator sitting upon the device or standing thereupon.

It is to be noted that while the feet are occupied with furnishing power for driving the device forwardly or rearwardly, the hands are free for purpose of steering the craft.

It is to be further noted that a paddle guard 75 has been provided to extend downwardly' on the underside of the `framework to protect the paddle elements against striking any object during travel of the device, thereby preventing any damage thereto.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In an aquatic vehicle, the combination of a main body member, said body member supporting a `frame, said frame carrying a driving mechanism and a steering mechanism, said driving mechanism being propelled by means of foot power and said steering mechanism being operated by hand, said main body member comprising the conguration of a swan, said main body member including a head element, a neck element adjacent said head element, a breast portion, a torso portion and a pair `of wing elements, said driving mechanism comprising a pair yof foot pedals, Vsaid foot pedals driving the propulsion mechanism which drives `a paddle assembly comprised of a plurality of paddle elements', s-aid paddle elements being engageable with the water below said main body and said main body having an opening in its underside through which said paddle assembly extends downwardly, said propulsion mechanism including a shoe upon said foot pedals forming a shoe pedal upon each of said foot pedals, each of said shoe pedals being mounted upon a shoe rod slidable vertically in a bushing, a crank lever having spaced apart slots, slide bushings being mounted to be movable within said slots, a link at the upper end of said shoe rod causing said paddles to be activa-ted about a pin alxed to said crank lever, the outermost ends of said crank lever being pivotably alixed to a second set of links attached at their lower ends to brackets mounted upon said `frame and a pair of rods attached to said brackets mounted upon said frame, said rods being pivotabrly attached at their upper ends to a second group of slide bushings, slidably mounted upon a longitudinal bar aixed iat its opposite ends to said crank lever.

2. In an aquatic vehicle the combination as set forth in claim l, wherein said steering mechanism comprises a post, a pair of handle bars mounted upon said post, a pair of transversely extending arms aixed to said post, said handle bars providing rotation to said post and said transverse arms, a cable connected at each end to the outward ends of said arms, said cable extending across a plurality of pulleys to the stern of said main body member, said cable being attached at said stern to a movable rudder.

3. In an aquatic vehicle the combination Vas set forth in claim 2, wherein said main I'body member further includes a seat mounted upon the upper side of said frame, said frame having an opening on its upper side for access of said operator sitting in said seat to` contact said foot pedals during operation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,846 Rehm July 28, 1891 1,459,297 Swan lune 19, 1923 1,643,839 Ehrlich Sept. 27, 1927 2,910,035 Johnson Oct. 27, 1959 Y FOREIGN PATENTS y 344,023 Switzerland July l5, 1960 

1. IN AN AQUATIC VEHICLE, THE COMBINATION OF A MAIN BODY MEMBER, SAID BODY MEMBER SUPPORTING A FRAME, SAID FRAME CARRYING A DRIVING MECHANISM AND A STEERING MECHANISM, SAID DRIVING MECHANISM BEING PROPELLED BY MEANS OF FOOT POWER AND SAID STEERING MECHANISM BEING OPERATED BY HAND, SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER COMPRISING THE CONFIGURATION OF A SWAN, SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A HEAD ELEMENT, A NECK ELEMENT ADJACENT SAID HEAD ELEMENT, A BREAST PORTION, A TORSO PORTION AND A PAIR OF WING ELEMENTS, SAID DRIVING MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF FOOT PEDALS, SAID FOOT PEDALS DRIVING THE PROPULSION MECHANISM WHICH DRIVES A PADDLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF PADDLE ELEMENTS, SAID PADDLE ELEMENTS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE WATER BELOW SAID MAIN BODY AND SAID MAIN BODY HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS UNDERSIDE THROUGH WHICH SAID PADDLE ASSEMBLY EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY, SAID PROPULSION MECHANISM INCLUDING A SHOE UPON SAID FOOT PEDALS FORMING A SHOE PEDAL UPON EACH OF SAID FOOT PEDALS, EACH OF SAID SHOE PEDALS BEING MOUNTED UPON A SHOE ROD SLIDABLE VERTICALLY IN A BUSHING, A CRANK LEVER HAVING SPACED APART SLOTS, SLIDE BUSHINGS BEING MOUNTED TO BE MOVABLE WITHIN SAID SLOTS, A LINK AT THE UPPER END OF SAID SHOE ROD CAUSING SAID PADDLES TO BE ACTIVATED ABOUT A PIN AFFIXED TO SAID CRANK LEVER, THE OUTERMOST ENDS OF SAID CRANK LEVER BEING PIVOTABLY AFFIXED TO A SECOND SET OF LINKS ATTACHED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO BRACKETS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME AND A PAIR OF RODS ATTACHED TO SAID BRACKETS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME, SAID RODS BEING PIVOTABLY ATTACHED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO A SECOND GROUP OF SLIDE BUSHINGS, SLIDABLY MOUNTED UPON A LONGITUDINAL BAR AFFIXED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID CRANK LEVER. 